MOUNT DORA, Florida— The man who left for lunch during his DUI manslaughter trial in March was taken into custody Wednesday morning.
Zachery Maurice Waldo, 36, was on trial for killing Christopher Smith, 44, his wife, Jessica Smith, 35, and their daughter Hailey Smith, 13, all of Eustis, more than three years ago. Their son Hunter, just 11 years old at the time, was the sole survivor in the vehicle his family was riding in. Christopher and Jessica died on the scene of the Christmas Eve 2019 crash and Hailey died on Christmas Day 2019.
As his trial was underway on March 14, Waldo left the Lake County Courthouse on a lunch break and never came back; Waldo was out on bond for the crimes and that is why he was allowed to leave the courthouse during the break. Leesburg Police Department, LCSO and U.S. Marshals began searching for him immediately and he was found guilty in absentia by a jury the same day.
He was found in Mount Dora Wednesday morning and taken to the Lake County Jail, where he is being held on no bond, according to online booking records. Inside Lake is working to get details on his apprehension.
